Cycling the Underground Railroad

DAY 14:  BELLEVILLE TO ASHLAND,OH Pre-Civil War Farm in north central Ohio. Some days one starts out with nothing specific on the radar in terms of significant landmarks.  Then one is surprised and pleased with serendipitous findings.  Today was one of those days. "Patchy fog before 10am" was the forecast, which turned out to be correct. It cleared up quickly and, although very humid all day, I was blessed by blue sky and a few white puffy clouds. Early on I passed an 1855 farm (top photo) and wondered if they had been a station here on the Underground Railroad.  We will probably never know, as many of the participants kept a very low profile to protect their "passengers" (fleeing slaves) and themselves.  There were hundreds of anonymous and unsung heroes who aided freedom seekers with no desire for recognition, praise or remuneration. They simply were doing the right thing. Once again, I was admonished to share the road with horses.  I didn't see any, but ...

  DAY 13: BELLEVILLE, OH (Rest day) "A Convenient Country Oasis"--my rest day AirBnB.  My apartment is at the small porch covering on the lower right side of the house. After almost two weeks of averaging about 50 miles a day pedaling, I'm taking a true "rest/recovery day" at this lovely farm about 3.5 miles south of Belleville, Ohio.  The sun in shining today, and the temperature is in the low 70s--a perfect day to let this "mature" body get some much needed down time!

  DAY 12: DELAWARE TO BELLEVILLE,  OH An "Ohio Century Farm" north of Delaware, Ohio. The streets were wet and it was threatening rain on my departure from Delaware.   But somehow on my traverse through (mostly) gentle rolling woods and farmland, I managed to avoid the surrounding storms.  Thunder was ever present, but rain over my head never materialized, for which I am grateful. Dark skies typical of today's ride, as sceen from Main Street in Fredericktown, OH. As I journeyed today, I thought of the minor sense of relief that fugitives from human bondage must have felt being assisted by conductors on the Underground here in Ohio, and traveling over less hostile terrain.  But they could still be pursued by slave catchers and returned to bondage, if they lived through the lashings and punishment for their attempted escape.  Freedom was still at least 70 miles away (the port of Sandusky) over land and boat ride to Canada.  It would be further if th...

  DAy 11: DUBLIN TO DELAWARE, OH Plaque on the banks of the Olentangy River in Delawares,  Ohio.  Today's destination was Delaware, Ohio, an "anti-slavery stronghold" near the center of this Free State. As I pedaled out of Dublin, I was greeted by a gaggle of honking Canada geese.  I had to wonder on this warm (heat index of 95F) and windy day (thanks to hurricane/tropical storm Nick sucking all the air out of the Midwest) if they were rethinking their decision to head south at this point. A few clicks out of town I took a ride on the Heritage Rail-Trail.  This is a short 2+ mile paved path the runs through corn fields and connects a couple of farm roads. Very curious. A bit further on I turned on Mitchell-Dewitt Road, and passed several houses with the name Mitchell on them.  I came upon their farm stand.  This family has been here on this very large farm for a long time.  (Duh, the road is named after them!) Then all of a sudden I'm on a bridge ...

  DAY 10:  SPRINGFIELD  TO DUBLIN (COLUMBUS), OH Mike Coyle and I heading out of Springfield.  I was honored to be accompanied on the first 35 miles of today's ride by Mike.  He and his daughter Rebekah (she and Jeremy hosted me last night) are hiking the Buckeye Trail, a 1,444 mile loop around Ohio, in segments.  He's not a regular bike rider, but a trooper extraordinaire.  Not many non-riders would attempt this, but Mike jumped right in! I thoroughly enjoyed his companionship and catching up on what has been going on in our lives. About 17 miles of our day was on these beautiful Ohio bike paths.  A person could take the one we're on, the Ohio to Erie Trail, all the way from the Ohio River to Lake Erie (diagonally across Ohio), 326 miles! The rest of the day was along mostly roads winding through corn and soy bean fields. At West Jefferson we stopped for lunch at the Main Street Deli.  Mike ended his ride at this point, and his son-in-law Je...

Tim Traub and I at the Xenia Station on the Little Miami River Scenic Trail.  DAY 9: WAYNESVILLE TO SPRINGFIELD, OH I had a "conductor" on the Underground Railroad.  Tim Traub (Col., USAF, ret) was introduced to me by Scott Frickenstein (also Col. USAF, ret).  Tim rode from his home in Xenia to be my guide ("conductor " in Underground Railroad terms) today.  And a great one he was! Monument in the middle of Wilberforce University.  Founded in 1856 and named after William Wilberforce, who led the fight to abolish slavery in the British Empire, Wilberforce University was the first private University established to afford blacks access to higher education.  The community here was very active in the Underground Railroad.  This school is still a venerable institution.  One of the buildings on campus is the King Center, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.  The above quote can be found there.  It is a sentiment I hope and pray is still part of ...

DAY 8: CINCINNATI TO WAYNESVILLE, OH The rail-trail I was riding today was a line of the Pennsylvania Railroad until 1974. It was a bit sad as I rode away.from the family I had spent almost two very wonderful days with, but I'll see them again in 10 days as I ride up to Michigan. Getting ready to leave the gaze of my "admiring" granddaughter. Adina! "Moving me down the highway..." After 13 miles of climbing a few hills to exit the city toward the east, I once again intersected the Little Miami Scenic Trail.  This multi-use, paved,  almost level path roughly follows the winding Little Miami River for over 50 miles. The Little Miami River wouldn't be called " "little" in Arizona! Being that it was Saturday morning, initially the trail was filled with walkers, runners and bikets.  I rode up next to a cyclist who made me an offer.  "If you're going to Loveland (about 10 miles up the road), I'll buy you a drink to learn about your jour...